Charles lawrence stokes



Jan. 11,1927. 1,613,968

6. 1.. STOKES DESCRIPTIVE MAILING MATTER Filed Oct. 50, 1924 fly y AIRPLANE T'IAIL.

IN V EN TOR.

re terated Jan. 11, 1927.

CHARLES LA'WRIENCE STOKES,

OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

DESCRIPTIVE MAILING MATTER.

Application filed October 30, 1924. Serial No. 746,903.

lily invention relates to improvements in distinguishing certain classifications of mailing matter.

The principal object of my invention is to provide dis ..nctively marked envelopes, labels, or prints tor directing the same as speedily as possible into the proper channels for areoplan-e delivery.

Referring to the drawings, in which the same numbers indicate like parts Fig. 1 illustrates a simplified application of my invention.

Figs. 2, 3, 4C, 5, 6, and 7 are modifications in application of Fig. 1.

In the drawings an envelope 1 is shown in outline, or 1 may be the side of any package whatsoever used for mail service on the address side of which is placed a plurality of distinctively colored lines.

For instance, 2 will be a red line and 3 will be a blue line and these lines may be placed on 1 in many different ways besides the illustrations shown.

Inasmuch as the lines 2 and 3 are printed generally on a white envelope 1, the address on said envelope, being generally typewritten or printed in black, is quite visible and outstanding above the colored lines 2 and 3.

The object of aeroplane mail service is to facilitate communication and increase the speed of delivery of mail matter. In order to accomplish thiscbjcct, it is highly desirable that aeroplane mail matter, whether deposited in special boxes or not, should be diverted to the proper channels so that; the delivery thereof will be l'mrilitattul. By using: very distinctively marked envelopes such as l have already described, said envelopes immediately strike the eye of sorter-s in the post office and other ollicials so that, irrespective of whether special aeroplane stamps are used or not, the envelope stands out so distinctively as not to be overlooked and is therefore easily segregated for the aeroplane mail with a minimum danger of being overlooked.

The same distinctiveness aids the delivery thereoi because the distinctive marks on the envelope leave no question in the mind of the postal carriers but that the delivery thereof should be hastened.

A further feature to accomplish the objects in view is the fact that different individuals, or corporations, may have their envelopes printed with one of the distinctive marks shown and therefore in preparing mail for aeroplane service, there can be no confusion as to the class of service desired for the mail because said distinctive envelopes are marked by their distinctiveness for immediate deposition in the proper postal boxes'for aeroplane service, or otherwise.

The distinctive colored lines 2 and 3 may be placed in any desired position on the envelope whatsoever, but a preferred form is shown in Fig. 6 wherein the lines 2 and 3 are formed as concentric circles, the inner of which may contain also a distinctive cmlem l.

In the modification shown in Figure 7 the vertical lines of the envelope of Figure 2 are omitted and the upper line is illustrated definitely as being red and the lower line is illustrated definitely as of blue color. In this figure the stamp 5 i indicated in the upper right hand corner as is customary, the return address 6 is indicated in the upper left hand corner, this naturally being optional but used in practically all business correspondence. The name and address 7 of the person to whom the mail is to be delivered is in the lower half of the envelope and as customary somewhat toward the right. As in Figure 2 the horizontal bands 2 and 3 are substantially in the upper hall of the envelope, actually as shown they are in the upper ninc-sintecnths and as in Fig ure 2 these two colored lines extend from side to side of the envelope and have a space between them ol the same width or depth as that; of the colored lines themselves. Obviously the blue could be. on top out; the manner shown is rather preferable.

At the present time the usual way of designating aeroplane mail matters is simply to write the words Aeroplane mail on the same and such mail may be prepaid by special or plain stamps or otherwise.

Such marks however are not especially distinctive and therefore the dispatch of such mail is often delayed.

In all of the various modifications the stamp is to be placed in the upper right hand corner, the return address, it' used, in the upper left hand corner, and the address of the person to whom the letter is to be delivered is in the lower portion of the envelope usually toward the right.

I claim l. A white rectangular envelope wider from side to side than deep from top to hotlllt) tom for the conveyance of airplane mail having in the upper nine-sixteenths and from side to side a red band and a blue band spaced apart to show red, white and blue between the space for the airplane stamps and the space for the address to which the envelope is to be sent.

2. A rectangular envelope for first class mail matter to be conveyed by special service, having on the face thereof as a means to distinguish it from other mail matter, a band strongly contrasting with the color of the envelope, said band being positioned away from the top edge of the envelope to provide space for stamps and being positioned away from the bottom edge to provide space for the name and address of the person to whom the envelope is to be delivered.

3. A rectangular envelope for first class mail matter to be conveyed by special. service, having on the face thereof as a means to distinguish it from other mail matter a band consisting of a red stripe and a blue stripe spaced apart to show the contrasting color of the envelope between them, said band being positioned away from the top edge of the envelope to provide space for stamps and being positioned away from the bottom edge to provide space for the name and address of the person to whom the envelope is to be delivered.

L. A rectangular envelope of greater width than depth from top to bottom and intended for first class matter to be conveyed by air mail, said envelope having on the face thereof a red stripe and a parallel blue stripe, said stripes being spaced apart to show the color of the envelope between them, the red stripe and the blue stripe each being approximately of the same width as he space left between them and said three stripes, i. e, the red stripe, the blue stripe and the stripe between them, being horizontal and spaced away from the top edgeo'l the envelope to provide space for the return ad dress of the sender in one corner and for the stamps in the other corner and positioned away from the entire bottom edge or the envelope to provide space for the name and address of the person to whom the envelope is to be delivered.

Signed at Wilmington, in the county of Los Angeles, and State of Calitornimthis 16th dayozt' October D. 19%.

CHARLES LAWRENGE STOKES. 

